Apparatus for generating foam for extinguishing fires



XR ,1,340,661 SR I. 8. AND 0. R. ERWIN. APPARAUS FOR GNVERATmG .rom For:EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

i s E Q:

AFFLICAYIO'HLED FEB. 2, I9IG. REEWED OCT- 5. |919.

Patented my 18, 19211.

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J. B. AND 0. R. ERWIN.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FOAM FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

APPLICATION FILED fsa. 2, 191s. RENEWED ocT. 6. m9.

Patented May 18, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A, MH angevin?? fr ...Mlmne sxvmeuisHr-lns.

JAMES B. ERWIN AND ORLANDO R. ERWIN, OF MILWAUKEEYWISCONSIN.

AIPARATUS FOR GENERATING FOAM FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed February 2. 1916, Serial No. 75,736. Renewed October6, 1919. Serial No. 328,927.

To all whom t 'may concern Be it known that we. JAMES B. ERWIN andOnInNno R. Fnwix. citizens of the United States, residing atl the cityof Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee. and State of llvisconsin, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Foamfor Extinguishing Fires, of which the following is a specification.

- Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generatingcarbon dioxid foam for extinguishing fires, especially fires" inhazardous liquids like benzin, gasolene, etc. l

The primar;7 object vof our invention is to provide simple attachmentsfor the ordinary so-called sodaandacid type of tire extinguisherswhereby the saine may be used with suitable chemicals to generate avolume of fp :pn equal to about ten times the capacity of suchextinguishers, whereby the tire fighting efliciency of such devices isnot only increased ten-fold, but they are then adapted to extinguishfires in combustible liquids, etc. Foam is well known to be vastlysuperior to water or solutions containing large percentages of water notonly in extinguishingifires in highly inflammable liquids but also inextinguishing any kind of fires, owing to the fact that it is adhesiveand may be thrown to a distance upon a wall, ceiling or any surfacewhere it remains long enough to put out fires thereon, and in transitfrom the extinguisher none of the eflicient firekilling gas, carbondioxid, is lost, as is the case with ordinary soda-and-acidextinguishers, because such gas is confined in millions of minutebubbles which form the foam.

Another important object accomplished by this invention is that the foambubbles are generated almost entirely in our iinproved foam spoutattachmentA from which they are discharged directlyr upon the lire asrast as generated and consequently in their highest state of fireextinguishing efficiency. It is a well known fact that when the foam isgenerated in a mixing tank and thereafter forced from thence by its ownexpansion through a series of ducts, hose, couplings, etc., the foambubbles become crushed or largely destroyed in transit therethrough andthe resultant stream at the nozzle is consequently largely condensed toliquid, the pressure thereby greatly decreased, and consequently thefire extinguishing efficiency of suoli stream is greatly reduced. -V iOur device and process of generating foam is further explained byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l is a verticalsectional view of an ordinary soda-aiul-acid extinguisher in its normalupright position, charged ready for use, to which our improved foamgenerating attachments are connected, the same being also shown invertical section.

Fig. 2 represents the device shown in Fig. l in itsinverted dischargingposition as adapted to extinguish a fire in an oil tank, said tank beingalso shown in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of an ordinary soda-and-acidextinguisher on wheels s hown in'itsv inverted position in process ofdischarging its contents through a line of hose connected to ourimproved foam generating attachment-shown in vertical section and inprocess of foam generation and discharge upon a fire in an oil tank,said tank also being shown in vertical section. Y

Like parts are identified by similar reference characters throughout theseveral views.

The tank A, of ordinary construction, is provided with the usual acidbottle B, bottle supporting cage C, cap D and outlet E, to which arubber hose (not shown in Figs. l and 2) is usually coupled, but insteadof which we attach a depending tubular spout F by means of ascrew-threzuled coupling functioning as an auxiliary foam producer andejector. T he lower end of the spout F is further detachably connectedto the tank A by means of the screw H engaging the L K. A second acidreceptacle L is supported within said spout F by means of the screws M,M engaging the lugs N, N or in any convenient manner. O is a stopple forthe acid receptacle L, the same being held upon the acid receptacle byits own weight.

To charge the device shown in Fig. l, the tank A has first to be filledwith a suitable foam )roducing solution l, next the acid bottle 3 isfilled with only suflicient acid (l to react upon and force saidsolution into said spout L. An additional quantity of acid ll is thenplaced in the receptacle L therefor when the stopples B and O are placedupon their respective receptacles and the cap inclosing cover l) roplamlupon l aid tank when the device is charged ready for use.

To operate the device shown in Fig. l, the same has simply to biiuvcrtcdas shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the.- acid Q will react upon a sufficientquantitv ot' ilal solution l to discharge same through duct li into thespout I", wherein said solution l is converted into foam b v chemicalreaction with the acid l therciuf 'l`lie loam. thus generated, escapesdirect through L Ii in its highest state ot ellicicncy for fireextinguishinv purposes. v

l`he jet of foam b is shown discharging upon the burning surface "l ooil in a tank U.

The device shown in Fig. 3 is in all respects similar to that shown inFigs. l and except that the same is ot' larger construction and mountedupon a pair of wheels W, iV, journaled upon axles v securely tastened tothe tank A. An elongated hose V is employed to convey the solution linto the spout F, whereby greater range of applying the foam to the tireis afforded. The spout F. shown in Fig. 3. is shown removed from thetank A. but the same is provided with an eye Y at its lower end adaptedto support said spout l" upon a hook Z7 fastened to the tank A, when notin use and when in its normal upright position.

Having thus described our invention what l we claim asnew and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. A device of the class describedcomprising a closed tank for a solution to be used' in the productionot' foam, a loam generating auxiliary spout located exteriorly ot saidtank, an acid receptacle having an opening in one end thereof, the samebeing norrnallv closed by a stopper, said receptacle heini;r securedaxially within the said spout anl so arranged as to permit a foampassage thercaround, the said tank and spout being in position tor theproduction ot't'oam upon being inverted, and a duet communicatingbetween said tank and spout.

2. A device ot' the described class, comprising a closed tank for asolution to be used in the production of foam, a foam generatingauxiliary spout located exteriorly to said tank, a receptacle haring anopening in one end thereof, the same being normally closed by a stopper7said receiiitacle being secured within said spout and so arranged as topermit a passage. for the t'oam around said receptacle and throughsaidspout, and a duct communicating between said tank and spout.

ln combination with a fire extinguisher tank, an auxiliary foam producerand ejector comprising a tubular spout in operative communication withthe said tank, a ioani discharge nozzle at the opposite end ot' thespout from its point ot communication with the said tank, an elongatedacid receptacle secured axially within said spout and having a foamoutlet passage tlierearound and having an outlet adjacent the oppositeend ot the spout from said-nozzle, and a gravity seated normally closedstopper upon said receptacle7 the said foam producer and ejector beingadapted tor operation by inverting. l

In testimony whereof we ailix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

iVitnesses O. C. VEBER, A. J. MCKERIHAN.

